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The Curachs
Curachs
are emblematic for Irelands maritime heritage: humble and
ingenious little skiffs that have been cherished by legendary
seafarers, countless generations of fishermen (read more on
History page) and most recently
community groups like us. Simple and resourceful in their
construction they offered an ideal pilot project to acquire
basic skills and knowledge of boat building (see Techniques)
and handling. We progressed from 16ft Dunfanaghy
Curachs to 22ft Kerry Naomhóga
and 12ft Tory Island curachs.
Proceed to main Curachs
Page.
The Lough Neagh Working Boats
Traditionally,
Lough Neagh fishing boats devided into three main categories:
sailed clinker built working boats of 17-22ft (top image;
for line and net fishing) and smaller flat bottomed cots (bottom
image; for netting in the shallows) and 'flats' (middle image;
for fishing and clay transport). These boats have been in
use on the lough at least since the 17th century. The cots
replaced the log boats (coití) which had been used
on the lough for at least 6,000 years. While the working boats
are clinker-built with a heavy keel, cots are flat-bottomed
with an inner keel plank and about three strakes. Flats are
somewhat a compromise between these two, clinker-built with
up to six strakes and well hipped at the stern, yet flat-bottomed
without keel. More on the Research
page. Few of these traditional boats have survived after been
replaced by longer engine boats and later high-powered semi-displacement
and planeing-hull GRP boats.
Proceed to main LN
Boats page.
Please note that this project is in progress and the page
will be updated as the boats comes together!
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